Heat vehicle seat and method of using same

Abstract

A vehicle seat has a cushion, a seat-heating arrangement integrated in the cushion, a ventilation device for the through-ventilation of the cushion over its surface area, and a control unit for controlling the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device. For the purpose of shortening the response time of the seat-heating arrangement when the latter is switched on, the control unit activates the ventilation device as the seat-heating arrangement is switched on in each case, the control operation, in the control unit, which causes the seat-heating arrangement to be switched on preferably being such that the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device are switched on at full power and the power of the ventilation device is reduced asymptotically to a predetermined end value within a predetermined time interval.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Vehicle seat comprising: 
       a cushion,  
       a seat-heating arrangement integrated in the cushion,  
       a ventilation device for the through-ventilation of the cushion over its surface area, and  
       a control unit for controlling the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device,  
       wherein the control unit is automatically operable to initially at least temporarily activate the ventilation device immediately after the seat-heating arrangement is switched on, and to subsequently reduce a power to the ventilation device within a predetermined time interval, whereby the vehicle seat is initially rapidly heated after the heating arrangement is switched on due to the combined operation of the seat-heating arrangement and the ventilation device.  
     
     
       2. Vehicle seat according to claim  1 , wherein the control unit is operable to cause the seat-heating arrangement to be switched on such that the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device are switched on at full power and the power of the ventilation device is reduced asymptotically to a predetermined end value within the predetermined time interval. 
     
     
       3. Vehicle seat according to claim  2 , wherein the end value can be adjusted manually. 
     
     
       4. Vehicle seat according to claim  3 , wherein the end value is zero. 
     
     
       5. Vehicle seat according to claim  2 , wherein the end value is fixed and, when the end value is reached, the control unit controls the seat-heating arrangement and the ventilation device, in dependence on the cushion-surface temperature measured by means of a temperature sensor, in accordance with a predetermined control mode. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle seat assembly comprising: 
       a seat heater integrated in a seat cushion of the vehicle seat assembly,  
       a seat ventilator integrated in the seat cushion, and  
       a control unit operatively connected to the seat heater and the seat ventilator and is automatically operable to initially temporarily activate the seat ventilator when the seat heater is switched on and to subsequently reduce a power to the ventilation device within a predetermined time interval, whereby the vehicle seat is initially rapidly heated after the heating arrangement is switched on due to the combined operation of the seat-heating arrangement and the ventilation device.  
     
     
       7. An assembly according to claim  6 , wherein the seat heater is an electric resistance wire heater embedded in the seat cushion, and 
       wherein the seat ventilator is operable to circulate air around the heater and through the seat cushion.  
     
     
       8. An assembly according to claim  6 , wherein the control unit is operable to switch the seat ventilator on at full power when the seat heater is switched on. 
     
     
       9. An assembly according to claim  8 , wherein the control unit is operable to reduce power of the seat ventilator asymptotically to a predetermined end value within the predetermined time interval after the seat heater is switched on. 
     
     
       10. An assembly according to claim  9 , wherein the end value can be adjusted manually. 
     
     
       11. An assembly according to claim  9 , wherein the end value is zero. 
     
     
       12. An assembly according to claim  9 , wherein the end value is fixed and, when the end value is reached, the control unit controls the seat-heating arrangement and the ventilation device, in dependence on the cushion-surface temperature measured by means of a temperature sensor, in accordance with a predetermined control mode. 
     
     
       13. A method of heating a vehicle seat assembly of the type having a seat heater integrated in a seat cushion of the vehicle seat assembly, a seat ventilator integrated in the seat cushion, and a control unit operatively connected to the seat heater and the seat ventilator and operable to control the seat heater and seat ventilator, said method comprising: 
       providing the control unit to automatically temporarily activate the seat ventilator when the seat heater is switched on; and  
       the control unit operating to reduce a power to the ventilation device within a predetermined time interval, whereby the vehicle seat is initially rapidly heated after the heating arrangement is switched on due to the combined operation of the seat-heating arrangement and the ventilation device.  
     
     
       14. A method according to claim  13 , wherein the seat heater is an electric resistance wire heater embedded in the seat cushion, and 
       wherein the seat ventilator is operable to circulate air around the heater and through the seat cushion.  
     
     
       15. A method according to claim  14 , wherein the seat ventilator is switched on at full power when the seat heater is switched on. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim  14 , wherein the control unit is operable to reduce power of the seat ventilator asymptotically to a predetermined end value within the predetermined time interval after the seat heater is switched on. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim  16 , wherein the end value can be adjusted manually. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim  16 , wherein the end value is zero.